Tire dealer shifts to lean retread plant

Tire dealer/retreader Black’s Tire Commercial Division has opened a new 50,000-sq-ft. plant and distribution center in Clarkton, NC. The facility, the 19th for Black’s, can produce up to 225 different truck tire retreads from 16- to 24.5-in wheel diameters.

Black’s Tire, a Goodyear dealer, has locations in North Carolina and South Carolina.

“New retreading equipment, state-of-the-art tire management technology and more storage capability at our new retread plant and distribution center will allow us to offer a new level of cradle-to-grave tire service,” said Ricky Benton Sr., owner of the Whiteville, N.C.-based business. “With this new facility, we can help truck operators reduce their costs.”

The company believes that by utilizing lean manufacturing processes, more retreads can be processed in a quicker and more efficient manner. Currently, the company retreads about 100 truck tires a day.